health
'Small number of Americans' affected by Ebola outbreak in Congo: CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday it is mobilizing an “international response” following an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda to coordinate the withdrawal of “a small number of Americans who are directly affected by this outbreak.”
TL;DR
- CDC is coordinating an international response to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
- A small number of Americans affected by the outbreak are being coordinated for withdrawal.
- The risk to the American public is considered low, with existing detection and response systems in place.
- Personnel are being sent to the Congo to provide support for surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, border health activities, and community engagement.
- At least six Americans were reportedly exposed, with one possibly symptomatic and three having high-risk exposures.
- The Bundibugyo virus strain is present, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.
- The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization.
- The WHO reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province, DRC.